Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has proposed the regulation of social media in a bid to tackle the growing misuse of digital platforms.
Atwoli, who spoke during the COTU Shop Stewards Meeting on Saturday, April 5, called on members of the public to tone down negative criticism, warning that social media misuse could drive away potential investors.
The COTU boss noted that the spread of misinformation and propaganda on social media could incite violence and lead to conflicts such as those witnessed in some African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, and South Sudan.
“Those on social media must stop propaganda. You must love this country; if you do not love it, investors will go away. You will begin fights and end up like Sudan and Congo,” Atwoli said.
“You cannot even go to Goma or other countries engaged in war. In Somalia, they have never had a stable government, and we do not want to take that route. Now, it will force us to tell the government to regulate social media,” he added.
While calling for the regulation of digital platforms, Atwoli urged President William Ruto’s administration to emulate other countries, such as China, which currently regulates social media platforms such as TikTok and WhatsApp.
In particular, the unionist expressed his reservations about TikTok, citing misuse of the social media application, especially by minors who, he claimed, illegally accessed the video-sharing platform to view unethical clips.
“It is a must we regulate social media because sometimes these children access apps such as TikTok, which show unethical videos. I want to tell you the truth—these platforms must be regulated,” Atwoli emphasised.
Atwoli's sentiments come on the back of comments by National Inteligence Service (NIS) Director General Noordin Haji who cautioned members of the public against misusing social media, terming it a huge threat to national and regional security.
Haji while addressing security stakeholders during the Mashariki Cooperation Conference in Naivasha, Nakuru County on Thursday, April 3, noted that the rise of social media misuse could distabilise the country and plunge it into unrest.
The NIS chief emphasised that while free speech remained a cornerstone of the country's democracy, there was a need for a balance between free speech and national security.
“Across the continent, we have seen a considerable increase in the use of social media platforms for advocacy and mobilization for civil actions. However, this has led to the emergence of coordinated and sustained misinformation and disinformation,” Haji stated.
“The misinformation and disinformation are aimed at misguiding citizens, leading them to make poor decisions and shaping their perceptions of their governments,” he added.
